Description
The farm and vineyards are located in the Northern valley of the Etna, an active volcano, in Sicily. Nowadays the northern valley is considered as Etna’s top area for single-vineyard (contrada) red wines like the “Côtes-de-Nuits” in Burgundy or Piemonte’s “Barolo” area. The estate’s surface area is approximately 24 hectares, of which 13ha are old vines in the classic free standing alberello training system (Gobelet or bush-vine), 9ha of old vines transformed into modern rows with various width, approximately 2ha of olive growth and the remainder are fruit trees, vegetables and bush. Although Etna has a tradition in high density plantation of vines, Cornelissen seeks to reduce monoculture and has thus interplanted various local fruit varieties which attract bees to regain a complex ecosystem. The new vineyards are planted without grafts, using a selection of our original, ungrafted vines.
Cornelisson’s farming philosophy is based on acceptance of the fact that man will never be able to understand nature’s full complexity and interactions, hence they choose to concentrate on observing and learning the movements of Mother Earth in her various energetic and cosmic passages and prefer to follow her indications as to what to do, instead of deciding and imposing ourselves.
Munjebel Vigne Alte, IGT Bianco
A special white wine, from our highest vineyards, located between 900 and 1.000 m. asl from ungrafted vines. At the edge of where vineyards were planted on Etna, this white wine combines the characteristics of great wines: profoundness, density, high acidity with minerality and texture.
Region: Etna, Northern valley
Vineyard: Tartaraci (1000m. asl) and Zacchino Pietre (920m. asl)
Location: Maletto (Tartaraci), Linguaglossa (Zacchino Pietre)
Varietal: Grecanico Dorato 60%, Carricante 10%, Coda di Volpe 30% (all ungrafted)
Average age of vines: 60 to 90+ years
Vinification: Destemming and light crushing of the grapes
Fermentation: skin maceration with only indigenous yeasts for approximately 4 days
Aging: In neutral epoxy tanks from 400 liters to 1200 liters
Fining: No
Filtering: Before bottling with cartridges of 0.8 micron
Annual production: approx. 250 magnums
First vintage: 2015
Denomination: DOP Sicilia or IGP Terre Siciliane Bianco
Bottle type: Dark burgundy bottle
Available sizes: 1500ML only
Recommended stemware: Zalto Burgundy
